James Harden reacts to a shot during a knockout game at the James Harden Basketball ProCamp,Thursday, June 23, 2016, in Houston.

James Harden reacts to a shot during a knockout game at the James Harden Basketball ProCamp,Thursday, June 23, 2016, in Houston.

Photo: Houston Chronicle

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Feb. 20, 2013 : Rockets 122, Thunder 119By the numbers:

46 points, 14 of 19 shooting, 7 of 8 3-point shooting.
Bearding: With the Rockets shaken and shorthanded with their starting power forward and his backup — Patrick Patterson and Marcus Morris — leaving the arena shortly before tip as the trades to send them out of town were completed, Harden dominated. He had his then career-high scoring night against his former team, scoring 16 fourth-quarter points to key the win.
Beardspeak: “I just told the guys on the court that we’ve got to do whatever it takes, we’ve got to get some stops together and make some shots. It’s not going to be easy, they’re a very good team. But we got some stops at the right time and guys made good shots.”

45 points, 7 of 11 3-pointers, 12 of 13 free throws, nine rebounds.
Bearding: After two tough losses in Oakland in which Harden lost the ball in the closing seconds of Game 1 and was held to 17 points in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals, Harden helped lead a phenomenal first quarter in a start-to-finish win that kept the Rockets’ postseason hopes alive.
Beardspeak: “I always want to take it out on my opponent in a good way. Just being aggressive, taking shots, getting to the basket, not really forcing anything and allowing the game to come to me.”

41 points, 10 rebounds, six steals.
Bearding: Harden took over down the stretch, scoring 20 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, joining Michael Jordan as the only player to score 41 points with 10 rebounds, six assists and six steals in a game since the 1985-86 season.
Beardspeak: “We knew how important this game was. It’s two games record-wise and for the tiebreaker, so it was more important, and we fought through it.”

37 points, 12 assists, four steals.
Bearding: Less than a week after the stunning trade that sent him from the Thunder to the Rockets and only hours after signing an $80 million contract extension, Harden’s first game with the Rockets showed why they wanted him. His 12 assists, while playing with some teammates he had only recently met, were a career high.
Beardspeak: "I think I just wanted to get out there and play. All the talking and all the craziness that has been happening this last week - I just wanted to go out there and play basketball.”

42 points, 15 of 24 shooting, 5 of 7 3s.
Bearding: With the Mavericks playing to stay in the series after a pair of wins in Houston in which the Mavericks had double-teamed him, Harden took over the Rockets offense. With a drive to a three-point play and a step-back jumper in the final minute, Harden completed the top scoring playoff game of his career and pushed the Mavericks to brink of elimination.
Beardspeak: “The first two games, they kind of put two on the ball and kind of got me off the ball. This game, there were really no traps or anything like that. They were just giving me lanes and letting me be aggressive. So I just tried to read the play and make the best decision.”

51 points, eight rebounds, six assists, 8 of 9 3-pointers.
Bearding: With a spectacular shooting display, matching his career-high for 3s in a game, Harden helped the Rockets overcome the dominant performance of DeMarcus Cousins, becoming the first player in franchise history with multiple 50-point games in the same season.
Beardspeak: “I had to match his energy. If he takes over the game and he is doing everything, I have to bring that same intensity to even it out. He is a great player and I wanted to match that intensity.”

33 points, 10 assists, 14 of 17 free throws.
Bearding: After blowing a 16-point lead on the night Dwight Howard would go out with an injury that would keep him out for much of the season, the Rockets were looking at overtime and, possibly, a very bad loss. They had one last possession to finally finish off the Sunday, put the ball in Harden’s hands and let him run down the shot clock for one last shot. Harden shook the defense of P.J. Tucker and hit a 20-footer over Isaiah Thomas at the buzzer, just his second career game-winner at the buzzer.
Beardspeak: “It’s a great feeling. Usually I go at seven, eight seconds. Now I went at three, four seconds left in the game. Hey man, either the ball goes in or it doesn’t. Fortunately, I made the basket. Tie game, on the road, you live for those moments.”

50 points, 10 rebounds, 22 of 25 free throws.
Bearding: Harden picked a special night for his career-high scoring game. With the Rockets celebrating the 20th anniversary of their second championship season, and with many of the stars of that title team ringing the court, Harden stole the show.
Beardspeak: “You know what, that’s a special group right there. We’re trying to build something special like they did. To play a game in front of them was definitely an honor. Having those guys here made it a special night. It made it that much more special.”

31 points, 7 of 9 3-point shooting, 8 rebounds
Bearding: With the Rockets facing elimination in the first round of the playoffs and Harden battling flu-like symptoms that would not even allow him to complete the morning’s shootaround, Harden hit his first seven 3-pointers to lead the Rockets to a 16-point lead and helped send the series back to Houston.
Beardspeak: “I just tried to go out there and give it all I had. It was a win or go home, so I got some shots to fall and I just tried to not think about it.”

41 points, six assists, six rebounds, 10 fourth-quarter points.
Bearding: With the game on the line, Harden knocked down consecutive 3-pointers, then ran down the shot clock before putting in a step-back jumper that completed a run of 10-consecutive Rockets points that gave the Rockets the cushion they’d need to hold off the Thunder for the win.
Beardspeak: "That’s my job. It’s what I do. I go out there and I take the big shots. My teammates did a great job the entire game of making shots, getting to the rim, just being in attack mode, being aggressive. In the fourth quarter, then, I’ve got to make shots.”

35 points, 13 of 16 shooting, 11 assists.
Bearding: In the Rockets’ final home game before the All-Star Game in Houston, Harden’s first All Star appearance, he made a final statement that he belonged.
Beardspeak: “I’m just focused on rallying these guys together, every single game. If I’m leading and showing my work ethic, they’ll follow.”

40 points, 12 of 17 shooting, 11 of 11 free throws, seven rebounds.
Bearding: With the Suns playing for a playoff spot and leading by 10 at home, Harden checked in off the bench and took over. His 40 points were his career high, outscoring his previous best with the Thunder by seven points.
Beardspeak: “It’s good when you get on a roll like that.”

43 points, 6 of 9 3s, 15 of 16 free throws, eight assists.
Bearding: Harden scored 22 points in the first quarter as the Rockets blew the game open quickly. He was within three of his then career-high of 46 when he sat out the entire fourth quarter.
Beardspeak: “Just me playing my game. Playing my game at a high level.”